The Spiritual Journey of Mankindনমুনা

Day Three

The Refugee Camp (Continued)

Reaching Out

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

In the Refugee Camp we see represented God’s messengers who are sent by God to help a dying refugee toward the salvation and hope that he or she is invited to. They are called Influencers in the book. These are ordinary men and women who walk with Jesus. As they go to fulfill the Great Commission given to them from their time with God, they are protected with spiritual armor that God has given to them. This shields them from the arrows of evil shot at them. This is how they were instructed from God’s word:

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:16-18 (ESV)

What are these arrows of evil that are mentioned? There are numerous examples. But at the core is temptation. They are thoughts given to discourage Influencer, or distract them, or to pull them back into their old nature. Some arrows are meant to physically injure them, or to mentally debilitate them, or spiritually discourage them. Without God’s protection they are vulnerable, for in their own strength and ability they cannot stand against the schemes and efforts of Satan and his minions. But in God’s protection they can stand firm and win.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)

Eternal Future with God

The purpose of Influencer in the Refugee Camp is to help someone to know about the freedom and hope given to them in Jesus Christ. This is their roles as disciples of Christ. These Influencers do not save people, for only Jesus can do this. They are not heroes. They are ordinary men and women who are simply messengers of truth, with that which they have discovered themselves. They are compelled by God’s grace to respond to His command to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). They are about their King’s purpose and commission to be a faithful witness and servant for those God invites to His kingdom. They point the way to the Bridge, which represents Jesus Christ and the salvation He gives. This bridge is a bridge of grace that bridges the great divide between God’s perfection, goodness and holiness, and a sinful world that has no hope otherwise. In the Refugee Camp, there will be a continued battle to get to this Bridge, because of the distractions from the enemy, such as the Appetizer Table, which are false religions and discouragement. But, with Influencer’s help, and the wisdom given from God, they can deliver a Refugee to the place that an individual choice must be made by Refugee. Will Refugee accept the gift of salvation by the grace of God through Jesus Christ? If so, it will require faith to do so. We read:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing ;it is the gift of God, not a result of works ,so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-8 (ESV)

A New Identity

In the allegory in my book, when Refugee accepts by faith the gift of salvation that is offered to Him through Jesus Christ (the Bridge), the bridge is lowered, permitting entrance into God’s Kingdom. Once crossing this Bridge an immediate transformation takes place for Refugee. He is clothed with new clothes, symbolizing the righteousness of God bestowed on him, and a new name symbolizing a new identity. He is renamed Learner, for he still has much to learn, as he goes deeper into the Castle, which represents his journey as a new Christian with getting to know God deeper and better. Learner will understand the importance of his new identity as he moves closer to realizing that he is completely adopted by God into His family and is indeed God’s child. This identity, once embraced by Learner, will place him before God in the intimate fellowship and relationship that he is invited to in the Inner Chamber. It begins here, at the Bridge, and then leads to that which has been purchased for him, which is an intimate restored relationship with his Creator. The passage that follows points this out.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV)

We are reconciled to God forever, and we then become reconcilers as we point people back to God.

TO GET A COPY OF THE BOOK, JOURNEY TO THE INNER CHAMBER, CLICK HERE.